# taz.de -- Migration Policy in Niger: Migration's main hub
> Europe is pumping millions of euros into the most important transit
> country in Africa and is counting on migrants returning home voluntarily.
(IMG) Bild: Angela Merkel visiting an IOM transit center in Niamey, Niger
Since 2015, the Sahel state of Niger has increasingly attracted Europe's
attention. This is because, every year up to 200,000 migrants cross the
former French colony and try to reach North Africa overland and, later,
Europe. Since other migratory routes, for example from Senegal to the
Canary Islands or from Morocco to Spain, have become almost impassable in
recent years as a result of strict checkpoints, it is estimated that Niger
has become the main transit country on the African continent, a view also
shared by the European Commission in February 2016.1
However, the number of Nigeriens that want to get to Europe remains low and
stable in comparison with other countries. In 2015, only 574 applications
for asylum were made in Europe.2 One reason for this is that the country,
where 18.6 million people live, is currently at the bottom of the Human
Development Index of the United Nations (UN). Many people are simply too
poor to afford the journey to Europe, which often costs several thousand
euros.
The town Agadez, which is around 20 hours away from the capital of Niamey
by bus, has become the centre of African migration. Centuries ago the town
was known as the ‚Pearl of the Sahara‘ and was an important centre for
trade in the Sahel region. This is also reflected in UNESCO's decision to
include the historic town centre on its list of world heritage sites in
2013. The population in 2012 was 118,240.
Today this number is actually expected to be much higher as Agadez has
become the most important migration hub in Africa. The whole city lives
from this migration, with young intermediaries bringing migrants and
smugglers together. In turn, they help obtain housing and arrange transport
towards the north. Then there are the dozens of men waiting for the money
transfers from their families in their home countries outside countless
bank branches, from which agencies such as Western Money Union profit.
Anyone who wants to build something or needs workers for physically
demanding work can find cheap day labourers. The police and gendarmerie are
also benefitting because money they ate demanding money from migrants at
every checkpoint, the amounts varying between €1.50 euros and €30. There
are arguments if the migrants are lacking documents.
It was estimated that between 120,000 and almost 190.000 people have passed
through the city in 2015. The figures for 2016 are expected to be higher.
Given its central role in African migration, Agadez is increasingly
attracting Europe's attention regarding the curbing the flow of refugees to
the north.
In November 2014, the Agadez Transit Centre was set up. The project was
funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and it was endorsed by the
Niamey government. The service is provided by the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM). The centre is supposed to help those
migrants who were already on their way North, in particular heading to
Libya, but who, according to IOM, have voluntarily decided to return. The
staff offer accommodation for people on the way back to their home
countries and enough supplies for a few days. In addition, they assist in
the organisation of bus tickets. Migrants also have the opportunity to call
their families. The centre is equipped with showers, beds and cooking
facilities and can accommodate up to 1000 people in emergencies. It
typically looks after 400. During a visit in August 2015, however, there
were only around 15 people on the premises.
In April 2016 the Migrant Information Office was also opened in Agadez as
part of the IOM programme Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism (MRRM),
which was financed by the European Union and the British agency DFID. It
aims to inform migrants about opportunities regarding visas and asylum, as
well as job opportunities in Europe via IOM statements. There was also the
idea to bring those returning home together with other willing travellers.
As a result of the 2015 law against human trafficking, migrants are,
however, hiding as much as possible, remaining in their accommodation and
the areas where they are living and trying to be invisible. In most cases,
this is demanded by their smugglers.
Additionally, there are two further small information centres located in
Dirkou near the Libyan border and in Arlit on the border with Algeria. The
seven million euros of funding provided by the European Union runs until
October 2019. Another information centre is situated in the capital,
Niamey. The IOM, which runs them, stresses that residence in the facilities
is voluntary. There is cooperation with other organisations, such as the
Catholic Church.
Niamey is also home to the civilian Sahel mission of the European Union's
EUCAP, which has been led by Finn Kirsti Henriksson since August 2016 and
has an annual budget of 26.3 million euros at its disposal.3 Another office
can now be found in Agadez. The mission, which has 165 on site staff
members, was launched in 2012 and has a mandate until 2018. The mission was
officially due to the unstable situation in many neighbouring countries.
For example, several Islamist groups occupied the north of the neighbouring
country, Mali, from April 2012, causing 200,000 people to flee. Today, over
60,000 Malian refugees are living in Niger. The collapse of Libya, where
many West Africans including Nigerians, had gone to work, has also had a
significant impact on the region. In November alone the IOM brought another
167 Nigeriens back to their home country.4
It is particularly unsafe in the South East of the country, around the city
of Diffa, where almost 97,000 Nigerians are living. They fled from the
terrorist group Boko Haram, who have also carried out attacks in Niger
increasingly since January 2015. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is
also active in Niger, with attacks as recently as October, when they
attacked the Tazalit refugee camp, killing 22 people. Previously, AQMI was
repeatedly responsible for kidnapping Europeans.
The EUCAP mission was set up because of precisely this instability. Its aim
is to support the fight against terrorism and organised crime at a national
and regional level. To achieve this they are providing, amongst other
things, training for their policemen and soldiers. According to their own
statistics, more than 7000 employees have received security training to
date. Both generally speaking and in official releases the EUCAP is not
against immigration, but it is against “illegal“ activities, such as the
trafficking of drugs and humans, which are often involved.
In 2015 human trafficking was the most important buzzword in Niger, even
though migration was not yet the dominant theme in Europe. In May, under
the leadership of Mahamadou Issoufou, who in March this year won a second
term during a highly criticised election, the government adopted the policy
that human trafficking could be punishable up to 30 years in jail and a
fine of up to EUR 45,000. The EU has put on massive pressure, according to
Hassane Boukar from the journalist network „Alternative Spaces for the
Citizens of Niger“. He believes that the government has also „come to this
noteworthy decision without consulting the citizens of Niger“.5
At the same time there is also criticism of the fact that, first and
foremost, the law pushes migrants into illegality. It is also possible for
smugglers to charge higher prices. In any case, implementation is
difficult. The majority of migrants arriving in Niger come from countries
within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Migrants are
able to reside for up to 90 days in any of the countries inside the ECOWAS,
as ratified in the 1979 “Protocol on Free Movement of People, Residence and
Establishment“. But these regulations are implemented differently from
country to country; for instance sometimes personal identification is
enough, but for others a so-called ECOWAS-Travel-Pass is required.
But the relatively new legislation against human trafficking is not the
only result of pressure from the EU. There are many other plans which, at
first sight, should improve infrastructure in Niger. In addition to the
EUCAP-Mission and “information centres“, the European Development Fund
should be sending 596 million euros to Niger between 2014 and 2020, which
will be used to implement general infrastructure projects. No other single
country is receiving such a large sum. Through funding from the EU
Emergency Trust Fund for Africa there are plans for a further EUR 30
million to be used for agricultural projects in Tahoua and Agadez, and an
additional EUR 25 million for the improvement of government practises at
local levels and improving the management of the migratory flow. The local
partner is GIZ, the German Society for International Co-operation.
A further EUR three million are also earmarked for “improving border
control“, with help from the Security Programme Diffa Niger (SEDINI).
According to officials, these measures should prevent the growth of Boko
Haram in Niger. Another reason to do this is the large amount of migrants
coming from Nigeria.
Niger has already had a deportation agreement with Spain since 2008. In
February 2016 it was among the 17 countries that were, according to the
German government, hindering the deportation of migrants back to their
country of origin.
12 Dec 2016
## AUTOREN
(DIR) Katrin Gänsler
## TAGS
(DIR) migControl
## ARTIKEL ZUM THEMA